{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T09:08:08Z","timestamp":1788944888184,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":96,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788912000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Plant surfaces form a critical biomechanical and ecological interface between plants and insects. Beyond chemical cues and rewards, the physical micro- and nanostructure of stems can decisively shape insect attachment, locomotion, and visitation patterns. This perspective paper synthesizes a body of work centered on studies by Gorb, Gorb, and collaborators (2017\u20132024), together with the broader literature cited therein, to develop a framework for understanding stem surface-mediated plant\u2013insect interactions. We integrate comparative, experimental, and biomechanical evidence demonstrating that epicuticular waxes, pubescence, epidermal cell geometry, and surface roughness act each and in combination as a mechanical filter for crawling insects, particularly ants. We propose a unifying conceptual model, in which plant stem surfaces function as scale-dependent mechanical barriers that modulate insect access, balancing ecological trade-offs between attraction and exclusion. The paper further highlights ecological and evolutionary implications as well as methodological advances and discusses opportunities for bioinspired applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants15182751","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T08:05:43Z","timestamp":1788941143000},"page":"2751","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Stem Surface Microstructure and Plant\u2013Insect Interactions: A Perspective"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Elena V.","family":"Gorb","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1\u20139, 24118 Kiel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9712-7953","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stanislav N.","family":"Gorb","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1\u20139, 24118 Kiel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Riederer, M., and M\u00fcller, C. 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